Ferrari does not agree with a technical trick from Mercedes and Red Bull. The Formula 1 2017 has its first technology dispute.
It was the big story to kick off the New Year: Ferraris inquiry about the legality of a hydraulic damper system which Mercedes use and Red Bull since the last year. Ferrari chief designer Simone Resta asked Racing Director, Charlie Whiting, to what extent an extreme version of this mechanism was legal. The hydraulic damper should make sure that the car jumps less strongly over ground waves and notches and is thus quieter. Thus, the tire use is also to be improved.
Ferrari wanted to know if kinetic energy of the damper must be stored so that the third suspension member can position the car aerodynamically perfect now. Whitings Answer: no! This does not mean that Mercedes and Red Bull have to expand their systems. The mechanism is legal as long as no energy is stored in order to optimally align the car aerodynamically.
On the Internet it is now speculated that Ferrari wanted to shorten the delay on Red Bull and Mercedes with a requested ban of the suspension variant. The Scuderia has only succeeded in part: Red Bull is no longer allowed to change the angle of attack of his car via dampers and "do not use 100%", says the team.
The interpretation from Italy, however, is different. The technicians around Simone Resta wanted to see how far they can actually go with the system. Background: The engineers plan an extremely aggressive version of the suspension and therefore explore the limits of the permissible.
According to AUTO BILD MOTORSPORT, Ferrari is also planning a so-called S-shaft for the model with the number 668, which directs air through the nose and prevents the airflow from tearing (see drawing). The latest legal version had in 2016 among others Mercedes and Toro Rosso. In addition, the position of the mirrors becomes critical. Reason: The visibility is restricted because of the lower tail wing.
And: Although increases the maximum width of the body, the side pods probably remain as narrow as in 2016. Background: Due to the wide tires , the air flow is in this area anyway disturbed so that a widening of the car is not worth for aerodynamic reasons.

Ferrari are working "round the clock" to finish their car before pre-season testing in late-February according to Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, due to the scale of the changes for 2017.

This year sees an overhaul of the technical regulations in the hope of producing much faster cars, and unlike most previous season, there will be little to no carry across in parts from the 2016 car to the 2017 car, meaning teams are having to work almost non-stop to be ready.

That's no different for Ferrari, according to Marchionne: "They're working round the clock," he told Corriere dello Sport. "At Christmas they had just two days vacation."
Although Marchionne says initial data suggests they're heading in the right direction, he refused to make any bold claims as he has done previously – none of which have proven accurate.

"The car is running well, I mean that the engine runs on the bench great. But I'm not falling for that this time, let's see what happens when the lights go out on the track.

"But the work they are doing [at the factory] is enormous, the engine, aerodynamics, all new rules."

When asked if Ferrari must rely on Mercedes making a mistake, he added: "We are wrong if we think like this. Maybe you don't like them, but they're good. It all depends on us, we need to focus on what we need to do to beat them."

I think McLaren are in a big hole. Their chassis isnt a great one, a thing easy to see the last time they had a Merc engine, being beaten by Williams, a team who also isnt a great developer in that section. Right now, McLaren aero team is hiding behind Honda's underperformance, but if/when Honda will deliver a good engine, they will be discovered as an average chassis team, and all of those McLaren fan boys shouting they have the best chassis and only the engine is holding them back will have another huge shock.

IulianFerrari IMO, if Mc/Honda does'nt make it in 2017, i think honda will pull out as an engine supplier and Mclaren will end up going back to the Merc power unit. That, above the so-so chassis, will at-least give them a +1 spot in the WC in 2018 compared to 2016...theoritically.

Well, with the new aero regulations next year, it doesn't matter if McLaren had bad chassis in 2016. All the teams start from scratch. McLaren are definitely capable of surprising and making a top notch chassis, so lets wait and see.

Stormy---With the new regulations, given tire widths and width of the car to pre-96 measurements, Monaco should make for an interesting race as tight as it is already? And that small little chicane at Baku by the castle in the historical part of the city....thats tight?

Stormy---With the new regulations, given tire widths and width of the car to pre-96 measurements, Monaco should make for an interesting race as tight as it is already? And that small little chicane at Baku by the castle in the historical part of the city....thats tight?

I don't really understand what you are aiming at. F1 was in Monaco before 1996, so why it cant be now? Monaco is and always will be a boring race that looks more like a parade. Can't change that as long as F1 is in Monaco.

FERRARI 2017 - PART 1 here is how will the snout
We talked a lot in the last few weeks of " Suspension Gate " generated by the now famous letter sent by Ferrari to the FIA early last December. To conclude the discussion it is important to emphasize that Helmut Marko has dwelt on the fact that the new technical directive issued by Charlie Whiting after the clarification requested by Ferrari, will have an impact on suspensive systems of RB13 . Also according to the former Austrian racing driver, Red Bull will not have to completely change suspensive systems but may only be made of changes to make 100% of the legal solutions designed , planned and under construction in the month of November. Marko concluded by saying that the RB13 will mount a solution similar to that used in 2016, but "less efficient" in order to get back within the technical regulations.

PRESENTATION FERRARI 2017: 24 February at Fiorano with the first 100 km on track
But we move to the true subject of the article that is the car which Scuderia Ferrari will be riding in the 2017 Formula 1 world championship . With this article we analyze how will the face of the upcoming Italian car that we remember will be presented Friday, February 24 at the Fiorano track .

It will not be a simple presentation to Fiorano since 2017 on the same day the new car of the Italian team will also carry out the first 100 km on the track, a kind of shakedown to check that all components, especially electronic, operating as intended and that the assembly made only hours before it was made in the best way. Rather wise choice according to our point of view to make it through the first day of testing in Barcelona with the least possible unknowns. Recall that in only eight days of testing all the teams will especially try to understand as best as possible the tires as well as to test all new aerodynamic components, Mechanical and Power Unit. And 'why Ferrari chose to debut the car before the test in Barcelona: to avoid annoying loss of track time for small problems even born during the assembly of the car.

PROJECT FERRARI 2017: Rory Byrne full time to catch up to mid-2016
E 'for many weeks in Maranello that you are working hard to get prepared for this important event whereas in summer 2016 the design work had slowed down because of internal shocks that led to the "dismissal" of the then Director technical James Allison then replaced with Mattia Binotto.

In what has been collected in recent days the delay was partly also recovered thanks to the hard and valuable work of Rory Byrne that can be considered today an almost full time employee and no longer in the classic role of "consultant" , only one-off Maranello even in intense periods of pre-season work. The South African technical expert started working in Maranello around the month of August, focusing initially on the chassis of the 2017 car and then focus on the mechanics.

Compared to 2016 when the President Marchionne insisted from the outset of the victories, from the Maranello management approach chosen for the 2017 season it seems to be completely different. It will be very difficult if not impossible to have a car that will allow Ferrari to fight to win from the first races. The lively work of the last months it is necessary to bring into effect a good car , no congenital defects (present on the SF16-H, turbocharger and gearbox to name two rather obvious) and then try to develop it in the best way during the season , something that in Maranello in the last season they have not demonstrated the ability to do unfortunately. This season 2017 will be crucial for the various team succeed in bringing on the track at every appointment a number of updates since the few hours guaranteed by Regulation F1 wind tunnel and CFD will certainly "give birth" of cars rather immature in many ways of view.

FERRARI 2017: will use the same concept of the muzzle of the SF16-H
The first part of the car that we analyze on these pages is the nose to see if the Maranello team will confirm him snout style already seen on the track during the 2016 season or if it will upset.

Many people are wondering how the technical regulations evolved regarding snouts in version 2017 and the rescue comes our great Alessandro Rana who fully translated the Technical Regulations 2017 in Italian (in the next few days you can also browse it you):
ARTICLE 15.4.3 An absorbing structure must be fitted in front of the survival cell. Such a structure can not be an integral part of the survival cell but must be solidly connected to it and disposed symmetrically with respect to the center line of the car. No part of this structure can be more than 525 mm above the reference plane and its point ahead must not be less than 1050 mm forward of the front wheels .
It should have:
a) A single external vertical section, perpendicular to the center line of the car, above 9000 mm2 to a point 50 mm behind the most forward point. No part of this cross-section may be less than 135 millimeters above the reference plane and its overall width must not exceed 140 millimeters.
b) A single external vertical section, perpendicular to the center line of the car, more than 20000 mm2 at a point 150 mm behind the most forward point. The overall width of this section must not exceed 330 millimeters.
When measuring these sections, only the parts between the highest point of the section and 100 mm vertically below at that point, can be considered. Each outside vertical section, taken perpendicular to the center line of the vehicle between the points 150 mm behind the most forward point of the snout and 150 mm forward of the front wheels, must be a single section with an area that exceeds a value given by a linear taper from 20000 mm2 60000 mm2 respectively. Furthermore, all the lines drawn normally and externally to a vertical section taken 150 mm in front of the front wheels and perpendicular to the center line of the machine, must not cross a longitudinal vertical plane lying on the center line of the car.
Basically what has changed compared to the Technical Regulations 2016? Only the underlined part, ie the length of the muzzle that by adapting the front wing arrow will be for longer force. Noses version 2017 will be (theoretically) 200 mm longer than the faces seen on the track in the 2016 Formula 1 season.

From the information gathered by the team FUnoAnalisiTecnica Ferrari of 2017 will not have a muzzle solution similar to Mercedes 2016 or a "long solution" view of the SF15-T but will maintain a short nose with central protuberance . Of course, always respecting the new length of the muzzle imposed by the Technical Regulations of 1050 mm compared to 850 mm of 2016 which will have a nose less inclined, favoring also the aerodynamics of the front of the car. The greater length of the nose allow the Italian team to shorten the central protuberance through greater ease in passing the front crash test FIA in this 2017.

Short nose that will have a Importane aerodynamic function: to convey as much air as possible to the bottom of the frame with positive influences on the downforce to be generated through the generous rear diffuser version 2017.

To conclude this article, the Ferrari 2017 finally we will see the S Duct , a component that allows to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the front thanks to the passage of air between the bottom and top of the muzzle.

Well, with the new aero regulations next year, it doesn't matter if McLaren had bad chassis in 2016. All the teams start from scratch. McLaren are definitely capable of surprising and making a top notch chassis, so lets wait and see.

It shows they are incapable of making a top notch chassis. If they were they would have done it. They built an average or rather subpar chassis, so maybe they are capable of a good one, maybe, but a top notch no way. Mercs have the best engine and RBR is best at aero. Even when they had a poor engine, RBR had the best chassis.

It shows they are incapable of making a top notch chassis. If they were they would have done it. They built an average or rather subpar chassis, so maybe they are capable of a good one, maybe, but a top notch no way. Mercs have the best engine and RBR is best at aero. Even when they had a poor engine, RBR had the best chassis.

I agree with you. However, I still think they are as capable as we are on making a good chassis. Why should they not have the same potential?

Mclaren are just as capable of building a good chassis as anyone else, it's never sensible to write off teams with such a long history of causing Ferrari big problems! That's why I've never considered supporting them, and it's dangerous to under-estimate your competitors when the regulations have just been changed.

Mclaren are just as capable of building a good chassis as anyone else, it's never sensible to write off teams with such a long history of causing Ferrari big problems! That's why I've never considered supporting them, and it's dangerous to under-estimate your competitors when the regulations have just been changed.

Edit: Was referring to Pure Passion (post #255). First time I used the "Reply" button instead of "Reply with Quote", thought it would show in some way what post I was responding about without copying the large post he made.

Last edited by abbottcostello; 16th January 2017 at 08:21.
Reason: Not very clear what post I was replying

Forza Ferrari !"You need great passion, because everything you do with great pleasure, you do well." - Juan Manuel Fangio